The Characters In Safety Of Numbers By Lucy Tan

As our parents, they are our protectors. The people that look out for our best interests and consistently help us navigate through this cruel and unfair world. In the short story, “Safety of

Numbers” by Lucy Tan she demonstrates how one person(s) past may affect the people around them unknowingly. The Narrator and her mother have a troubled relationship due to her mothers past as an activist. Consequently, the Narrator becomes isolated, inexperienced, and becomes remotely hidden from the world that lies beyond her education.

To start off simply, we can infer that the Narrators mother is very controlling and eager to make sure her daughter does not follow in her footsteps. Resulting in her outrageous behaviors toward the Narrator. Throughout

56). The Narrator becomes very defensive, meanwhile her mother begins to bombard her with her Tiananemen Massacre experience. It was not known to the Narrator that her mother had experienced such a devastating event. She starts to sympathize with her mother along with the pain and trauma left effecting her everyday life. She expresses her sorrow by stating, “I’m sorry about your friends” (para. 66). Now that she knows about this, she begins to better understand her mother. It is then understood that all her mother is trying to do is protect her from the brutal hardships of the real world. However, the need to feel “free” begins to over power her.

Lastly, the Narrator begins to create the mentality that she must “Do what you have to do now, so you can do what you want to do later”. After her mother explained to her, the horrible experience that happened in her past, the Narrator was able to sympathize however she still felt alienated and controlled. At the end of the plot, the Narrator began to take her SAT test to help satisfy her mothers wants. However, after the test is over a major event happens. The Narrator and Cat decide to run away together. Cat reminds the Narrator of the amount of trouble they

What I’m scared of is growing up to be scared” (para. 82)). Signifying that the Narrator know longer cares about her consequences, she wants to see the world as it truly is. The good and the bad. This a huge turning point in the relationship between the Narrator and her mother because the Narrator begins to not enable her mother to control her anymore.

In conclusion, the Narrator and her mother as we have analzyed relationships can be depicted as troubled, yet compassionate. Her mother is very compassionate about keeping her daughter isolated and focused on her studies. However, the Narrator yearns for opportunities and experiences that come outside of school work. The dynamic of this relationship goes up and down constantly, one second they’re agreeing and the next the Narrator is rebelling and running away with her best friend. As a mother, your duty is to protect your daughter, however controlling her everyday life, is somewhat overbearing. Furthermore, it causes the daughter to feel as if she has no identity or control over her own life. Caring about your child(s) safety is different from stripping them from making their own decisions. Teenagers need guidance on how to manage the real world, isolating them will only make it harder for the both of